Exercising or massage apparatus.



R. REACH.

EXERCISING OR MASSAGE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11. 1909.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

Imam/Z31 B04511" Raw/lb,

UNITEM STATE% PATENT @FFIQE.

ROBERT REACH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXERCISING OR MASSAGE APPARATUS.

Application filed January 11, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT REACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Exercising or Massage Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My THVGIllZlOn relates to exercising and massage apparatus and concerns particularly, means for exercising the peristaltic muscle by applying force to induce muscular contraction of the intestines in the same direction that nature does.

The apparatus comprises a rotary member journaled in a suitable bracket or support with means for rotating the same, the rotary member being in position to bear upon the abdomen so that by its rotation it applies force in the desired direction.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying draWings,Figure l is a plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a front view thereof.

The apparatus is specially designed for the treatment of constipation, by stimulating the muscular contraction of the intestines.

In the form of apparatus which I illustrate herein as an example of the application cf my invention, I employ a bracket or frame 1 supported by a base plate 2 from the wall, said bracket having two sides 3 and a journal 4 in which bears a shaft 5 carrying at its outer end a disk or plate 6 in which are mounted a series of balls 7. These balls are arranged on radial pins screwed into bosses on the edge of the disk or plate and they are adapted to rotate on these pins when they are pressed upon by the abdomen of the patient, and the disk or plate is rotated.

The disk or plate together with the balls is rotated through a cross shaft 8 journaled in the sides of the bracket or frame, said shaft having crank arms 9, 10 at its opposite ends by which the patient or person using the apparatus may, himself, operate the apparatus while standing before it with the balls applied to the abdomen. The cross shaft is geared to the shaft which carries the described balls by bevel gears 11, 12.

In order to massage the body at the liver to excite its action, I employ a supplemental Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, mos. Serial No. 471,784.

series. of balls 13, preferably three in number. These are carried by a pin or shaft 14:, having a conical end or pin 15 to fit a corre sponding socket in the disk or plate, which carries the main set of balls and axially in relation thereto. The supplemental balls are carried on the pin radially thereof and they like the main balls are adapted to rotate on their own axes as well as rotate as a body when the main disk is rotated. These supplemental balls project out beyond the main series of balls so that they alone will act upon the desired area of the body at the liver to excite the action of the same. These supplemental balls are removable as one body by simply withdrawing the conical pin from the socket in the disk or plate which carries the main set of balls. When they are in place the frictional contact of the conical end of the pin or shaft with the walls of the socket in the main disk or plate is suflicient to cause the rotation of the whole series of supplemental balls. The supplemental balls can be placed in position or removed in a moment by the personusing the apparatus.

1 do not limit myself to two handles or to the precise form of the machine described.

It will be understood that where I use the term balls in the claims and specification, I mean the particular form of ball shown, or any equivalent thereof, such as a roller adapted to roll upon the body, and this form of roller may be varied Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim 1. In combination in a massage apparatus, a support, a shaft j ournaled therein and ex tending forwardly in relation thereto, a rotary carrier on the front end of said shaft having its rotary movement in one direction, rollers mounted on said carrier and each rotatable on its own axis, a shaft mounted in the support and extending transversely in respect to the support and at right angles to the first shaft, gearing between the shafts and a handle mounted in rear of the carrier and connected with the transverse shaft to rotate the same and the carrier with the rollers, substantially as described.

2. In combination in a massage apparatus, a support, a shaft journaled therein, a carrier on said shaft having its rotary movement in one direction, a series of rollers mounted on the carrier, a cross shaft mounted in the frame and geared to the shaft first mentioned, and a handle connected at each end of the cross shaft for operating the same, said cross shaft, with its handles, being in rear of the carrier, substantially as described. v

- 8. In combination a frame, a rotary carrier journaled therein, means for rotating saidv carrier, a main massage device on the carrier, rotating in One plane With the carrier, and a removable supplemental massage device arranged in a plane in front of the main-massage device to rotate ina plane parallel thereto, substantially as described.

4'. In combination With a rotary carrier, a

series of balls radially disposed in relation to the axis, thereof, and a supplemental series of balls different in number from the balls of the main series arranged in front of the main series rotatable with and removably mounted in the carrier, substantially as described.

5. In combination in a massage apparatus, a carrier, a main massage member thereon, a pin having a conical end to fit a corresponding socket on the carrier, and a supplemental ball on the said pin, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT REACH.

Witnesses: I

HENRY E. COOPER, VALTER DONALDSON. 

